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AVPN launches second APAC Sustainability Seed Fund, allocating $5 million for tech-led climate solutions
Mumbai: AVPN, the largest network of social investors in Asia, announced the launch of the APAC Sustainability Seed Fund (SSF) 2.0, with the continued support of Google.org and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The $5 million catalytic initiative will be disbursed to non-profit organisations that leverage technology to address climate and sustainability challenges in the Asia Pacific region. The inaugural Fund was launched in June 2022 and successfully awarded $3 million to 13 grantees that proposed innovative approaches to address the disastrous impacts of climate change for vulnerable and underserved communities across the region.
The Asia Pacific region, which is home to 60 per cent of the world’s population, is warming faster than the global average, placing its population at risk of heat stress and extreme weather. Heavy reliance on natural resources, dense coastal populations, institutional vulnerabilities, and pervasive poverty are some of the social factors that compound the threat of the ongoing climate crisis for the Asia Pacific. In the absence of climate-oriented development, over 100 million people living in Asia could be forced into extreme poverty by 2030, and the region might lose up to 3.3 per cent of its GDP by 2050. It is critical to identify and accelerate innovative solutions that can drive real change. From the success of the first Fund, the APAC SSF 2.0 seeks to nurture and amplify more solutions developed by non-profit organisations that harness technology for climate adaptation and mitigation, while safeguarding the well-being of vulnerable populations in Asia Pacific. Other than providing financial support for the grantees, this round of Fund will also offer networking opportunities and capacity building to improve the organisations’ technology-led solutions.
With this launch, AVPN also announced the commencement of its research study on the climate tech ecosystem. The study aims to identify potential solutions and constraints of climate tech across social sectors, and produce evidence-based action documents for social investors and policymakers to accelerate the responsible adoption of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) to combat the climate crisis. A recent study by BCG found that AI has the potential to help mitigate 5 – 10% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 — the equivalent of the total annual emissions of the European Union. The insights and recommendations of the research study will be shared at AVPN’s flagship Global Conference, which will be held in Abu Dhabi from 23 to 25 April 2024.
“The climate crisis affects us all, yet Asia in particular faces some of the most devastating effects of the climate crisis – all while being under-resourced to cope with the effects. We can no longer just discuss the topic; the urgency of the climate crisis in Asia necessitates transformative, scalable solutions, which technology could present. AVPN is optimistic about the potential of climate tech to contribute towards averting the climate crisis. Our mission is to support both impact organisations on the ground, as well as policymakers and social investors, to harvest the potential of climate tech for social good”, said AVPN CEO Naina Subberwal Batra.
Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google, increased their funding for APAC SSF 2.0, driven by the success of the inaugural fund launch and the growing urgency of extreme weather events.
“In the search for solutions to address the climate crisis, many impact organisations are exploring technologies such as AI and we see the impact through our past grantees’ work. By supporting more impact organisations from Asia Pacific with funding and capacity building programs, we hope to nurture solutions that leverage the necessary technologies like machine learning and beyond to meet shared climate goals at scale and on time”, said Google.org APAC lead Marija Ralic.
ADB is the strategic and outreach partner for APAC SSF 2.0, who will support with amplifying the fund to impact organisations with technology-led climate action solutions.
“Asia Pacific is in urgent need of innovative solutions to protect its most vulnerable communities from the devastating effects of climate change. The Sustainability Seed Fund 2.0 will support local impact organisations in leveraging technology to mitigate and adapt to climate impacts,” said ADB principal regional cooperation specialist, Southeast Asia department Jason Rush.
From now till 15 December 2023, non-profit organisations operating technology-led climate adaptation and/or mitigation solutions within Asia Pacific may express their interest in funding. Those who have submitted the expression of interest will receive an invitation to submit a more detailed project proposal.
MAM
De Beers launches ‘A Diamond Is Forever’ centenary book
Visual retrospective traces 100 years of iconic slogan and cultural impact.
MUMBAI: De Beers just dropped a century’s worth of sparkle between two covers because when a four-word line becomes forever, even the book needs a forever title. De Beers Group has released A Diamond Is Forever: The Making of a Cultural Icon 1926–2026, a landmark visual retrospective celebrating 100 years of shaping the modern perception of natural diamonds. The book traces how the brand transformed diamonds from elite heirlooms into universal symbols of love, commitment and personal achievement, with rare archival material, campaign highlights and cultural commentary.
At its core is the legendary 1947 slogan “A Diamond Is Forever,” penned by N.W. Ayer copywriter Frances Gerety. The four words redefined diamonds as eternal promises, earning the title of the 20th century’s greatest advertising slogan from Advertising Age in 1999. The book explores how this idea and others like the “Two Months’ Salary” guideline and the “Right Hand Ring” influenced social rituals, female independence and consumer behaviour worldwide, including in India, where diamonds shifted from gold-centric traditions to emotionally resonant milestones.
Beyond marketing, it showcases collaborations with artists like Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí and Raoul Dufy, alongside icons such as Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor. Later campaigns, including the 1990s “Shadows” series set to Karl Jenkins’ Palladio, reinforced diamonds as timeless and unique. The narrative also addresses today’s focus on provenance, sustainability and ethical stewardship, positioning natural diamonds as symbols of both enduring love and responsible luxury.
The book arrives as De Beers marks a century of innovation in luxury marketing, from the Great Depression to the era of conscious consumption, offering a rare window into one of advertising’s most enduring brand stories.
In a world where trends fade fast, De Beers didn’t just sell diamonds, it sold forever, and now it’s bound the proof in pages that will outlast even the hardest carat.
